Collapsible top for boats



Sept- 4, 1962 D. D. BEACH COLLAPSIBLE TOP FOR BOATS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 10, 1960 FIG. 5

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Sept. 4, 1962 D. D. BEACH COLLAPSIBLE TOP FOR BOATS Filed Aug. 10, 1960 2 SheetsSheet 2 FIE. .5

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United States Patent 3,051,967 COLLAPSIBLE TOP FOR BOATS David D. Beach, Minneapolis, Minn., assignor to Mc- Culloch Corporation, Marine Products Division, Minneapolls, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Filed Aug. 10, 1960, Ser. No. 48,676 3 Claims. (Cl. 9-1) "lghis invention relates to convertible tops for marine cra t.

The object of this invention is to provide a convertible top for pleasure boats or the like, which top is so constructed as to be readily and completely collapsed into an out-of-the-way storage compartment provided in the boat without detaching the top from its fixed connection to the boat.

The invention broadly comprises providing a boat with a rearwardly opening storage compartment on the floor thereof and a top supporting framework which is narrower than the boat interior and pivoted to the boat sides above the compartment for rearward and downward swinging movement of the framework, and a cover of pliant material carried thereon, between an erect condition over the boat interior and a collapsed or stored condition, with the framework depending downwardly from the pivots and the cover folded into said storage compartment.

The above mentioned and still further objects of the invention will be brought to light during the course of the following specification, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view showing a view of a boat incorporating the present invention and showing the convertible top collapsed into the storage compartment.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section through the boat with the top in erect condition.

FIGv 3 is a transverse vertical section through the boat, taken on line 33 of FIG. 2, and showing the erect top in rear elevation.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical section taken through the center portion of the boat with the top collapsed and showing the storage compartment door in open position in broken lines.

FIG. 5 is a transverse vertical section similar to FIG. 3 but showing the top collapsed to a stored position within the compartment.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings and using reference numerals to denote like parts or structural features in the different views, a pleasure boat incorporating the present invention is denoted generally by the numeral 10. The boat is provided with a conventional upwardly opening passenger compartment or cookpit 11 having seat '12 mounted therein. A windshield 14 is mounted to extend transversely across the bow portion of the boat. Steering wheel 15 is mounted on the boat dashboard immediately forward of one of the seats 12. The compartment 11 opens upwardly with the lateral limits of the opening being defined by sideboards 16 and the compartment is provided with a horizontally flat floor 17 spaced above the bottom of the boat. Seats 12 are mounted on a platform 19 which is supported in elevated position above the floor 17 and which has a ledge 20 extending rearwardly beyond the seats in vertically spaced relation to the floor. Ledge 20 extends transversely across the entire width of the compartment 11. A door 21, which is generally L-shaped in cross section as best shown in FIG. 4, is hinged to the floor 17 by an elongated piano hinge 22 for movement between a closed position extending upwardly from the fioor and against the rear edge of the ledge 20 and an open position folded rearwardly against the floor, as shown in broken lines in FIG.

4. Accordingly, the door 21, when in closed position against the ledge 20, provides a storage compartment extending transversely along the floor 17 immediately to the rear of the seats 12. The top panel of the door 21 has its end portions cut away, as denoted at 23 (FIG. 1), to provide top openings at each end of the compartment.

A pair of triangular brackets 24 are mounted in transversely opposing positions one on each of the side members 116. These brackets are integrally secured to the boat and are spaced vertically above the hereinbefore described storage compartment. Each of the brackets 24 has an internally threaded aperture which receives the threaded end of a clamp screw 25 with the head of the screw disposed inwardly from the bracket. Front and rear U-shaped bows, denoted respectively at 26 and 27, each have their ends journaled on the clamp screw 25 for swinging movement about the axis thereof. Bow 27 of necessity must project a greater distance from the clamp screw and, accordingly, each leg thereof incorporates a tubular member 28 in which the legs of the how are longitudinally slidable. A locking screw 29 is provided in each of the tubular members 28 to lock the bow 27 in any selected position of length adjustment.

A canopy or top of canvas or other pliant material is designated generally by the number 30. This top is provided with transversely extending loops 31 which receive the bight portions of the bow members 26 and 27. Cables 32 are attached one to each of the rear corners of the top 30 to be secured as by tying to the metal loops 34 mounted on the boat. The front edge of the top 30 is provided with snap fastenings to mate with similar fastenings mounted on the Windshield to secure the cover to the windshield in a conventional manner.

The top is shown in erected or cockpit shielding position in FIG. 2, with the bows 26 and 27, cables 32. and the windshield fastenings serving to hold the top 30 in a taut condition. Clamp screw 25 is tightened against the ends of the bow members to prevent their swinging about the axis thereof. When it is desired to store the top, the top fastenings to the windshield and cables 32 are disconnected, lock screw 29 is loosened to allow the bow 27 .to be shortened to the length of bow 26, and clamp screw 25 is loosened to allow the entire top assembly to swing rearwardly and downwardly through an arc of approximately degrees into the rearwardly opening storage area provided under the ledge 20. Door 21 is then swung closed and the top 30 is completely concealed from view and is protected against any substantial damage by the elements. The legs of the bow members 26 and 27 depend downwardly through the openings 23. To re-erect the top the steps are, of course, reversed.

It is understood that suitable modifications may be made in the structure as disclosed, provided such modifications come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Having now therefore fully illustrated and described my invention, what I claim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a boat having opposing side walls, a horizontal floor extending therebetween and an operators seat mounted over the floor and facing the bow of the boat, a ledge extending between the side walls of the boat to the rear of the seat and spaced vertically above the floor, a pair of transversely opposing brackets mounted one on each side wall to the rear of the seat and vertically above the ledge, a framework having its ends coaxially pivoted to the brackets and having a canopy support bar extending parallel to said axis but spaced therefrom, said framework being transversely narrower than the space between said side walls allowing said canopy support bar to be swung approximately 180 degrees about said axis between a canopy supporting position above the brackets and a stored position under said ledge, and a canopy of pliant material attached to said bar for extension over the seat when the bar is in canopy supporting position.

2. In a boat having an open cockpit, and a storage compartment at the bottom of the cockpit, a canopy of pliant material, a framework for supporting the canopy in covering position over the cockpit, said framework comprising a plurality of U-shaped bows pivoted to the sides of the boat for swinging movement about a common transverse axis between erect positions extending upwardly in relatively diverging relation from the pivot axis to support the canopy and collapsed positions extending downwardly in side by side relation from the pivot axis with the canopy folded within said storage compartment, said storage compartment comprising an elongated transversely extending enclosure opening rearwardly, and a closure door hinged on a transverse axis to the COCklPit References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,990,848 Velo Feb. 12, 1935 2,747,928 Olivier May 29, 1956 2,833,296 Woodrufi May 6, 1958 2,860,913 Kuiper Nov. 18, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 122,748 Sweden Sept. 14, 1948 

